The trail beyond the clearing wove through ancient trees, their trunks etched with strange, swirling glyphs that pulsed faintly in the twilight. The forest grew darker as they ventured further, though the air felt charged with something far older than magic—an unseen presence that watched from the shadows.
Kaelen glanced up at the canopy, where threads of silver light danced between the branches like restless fireflies. "Anyone else feel like something's about to jump out at us?"
Drakar's gaze remained steady, though he felt the same unease. "Stay alert."
Taronis walked at the front, his posture unwavering. "This place remembers. The past does not stay silent here."
The path widened into a small glade, where a monolithic stone jutted from the ground. The stone was covered in moss, its surface scarred with deep runes that pulsed with an eerie green light.
Kaelen crouched beside it, brushing away some of the moss. "This is ancient... older than the Titans."
Taronis's eyes narrowed. "A Veilstone Obelisk. Markers like these were once used to seal powerful beings away."
Drakar's pulse quickened as he approached the stone. "Why is it glowing?"
Before Taronis could answer, the ground trembled. The runes flared bright, and from the shadows behind the stone emerged a tall, spectral figure draped in ethereal armor. Its eyes glowed a haunting shade of blue, and a jagged spear of light formed in its hands.
Kaelen took a step back, his voice low. "What... is that?"
Taronis drew his blade, the edge gleaming with a pale blue glow. "A Harbinger Shade—a remnant of the Veil's defenders. They appear when a seal weakens."
The Harbinger's voice echoed, hollow and resonant. "Who dares tread upon the echoes of the forgotten?"
Drakar stepped forward, his dagger alight with emberfire. "We're not here to desecrate. We're here to grow stronger."
The Harbinger tilted its head, as if weighing Drakar's words. "Strength forged without purpose leads to ruin. Show me your resolve, or be scattered like dust."
The Battle of Wills
The Harbinger moved with unnatural speed, its spear cutting through the air like a streak of lightning. Drakar raised his dagger just in time, the weapons colliding in a burst of flame and spectral light.
Kaelen loosed an arrow, but the shaft passed harmlessly through the Harbinger's form. "Of course. Normal arrows don't work!"
Taronis spun into the fray, his blade humming with power. "Strike with will, not steel alone!" He swung his sword in a wide arc, forcing the Harbinger back.
Drakar's heart pounded as he adjusted his stance. The Core Fragment's hum grew louder, syncing with his heartbeat. He focused on the flame within, letting it rise and sharpen his senses.
"Ember Veil Strike!" Drakar surged forward, his movements swift as fire. His blade left a trail of burning light as it slashed across the Harbinger's chest.
The Harbinger let out a distorted cry as its form wavered. But instead of dissipating, it reformed, the runes on the obelisk flaring brighter.
Taronis's eyes darkened. "The obelisk is fueling it."
Kaelen gritted his teeth and pulled a small vial from his belt—a glowing liquid that shimmered with starlight. "Guess it's time to see if this works."
He hurled the vial at the obelisk. The vial shattered, releasing a burst of silvery mist that clung to the stone's surface. The glyphs dimmed, their glow fading like embers in the wind.
The Harbinger's form flickered and slowed.
"Now!" Taronis called.
Drakar sprinted forward, the emberlight in his dagger intensifying. The words came to him instinctively. "Infernal Severance!"
A wave of searing heat erupted from Drakar's blade as he slashed through the Harbinger's core. The shade let out a final, mournful cry before dissolving into motes of light that drifted upward like fireflies.
The forest grew still.
A Fragment of Truth
Drakar lowered his dagger, his breath ragged. The obelisk cracked and crumbled, revealing something embedded within—a small, crystalline orb that pulsed faintly with blue and gold light.
Kaelen stepped closer, his curiosity outweighing his exhaustion. "Another shard?"
Taronis shook his head. "No... this is a Veilheart Relic. It holds fragments of memories sealed by the Veil's ancient guardians."
Drakar reached out and grasped the relic. A sudden rush of images flashed through his mind—vast cities suspended in the sky, warriors wielding blades of light, and a distant voice calling out.
You are not alone.
He blinked, the vision fading as quickly as it came. He turned to Taronis, his voice steady. "What does this mean?"
Taronis's gaze was unreadable. "It means that the answers we seek may lie beyond the Veil."
Kaelen exhaled, resting his hands on his knees. "Great. More mysteries."
Drakar slipped the Veilheart Relic into his pouch, feeling its faint pulse alongside the Core Fragment. He knew that whatever lay ahead, the relic was a key to something greater.